SEASON IN REVIEW
Rocky Mount, North Carolina driver William “Blackie” Pitt picked up his first LASTCAR Cup Series Championship in 1954, the same year he was declared NASCAR’s first Rookie of the Year. Pitt finished last a series-leading two times in his twenty-seven starts during a season of thirty-seven races.
Pitt’s first last-place finish took place in his first career start at North Wilkesboro, North Carolina on April 4. That day, his #100 Gary Drake-prepared 1950 Plymouth suffered a wheel problem after twelve laps. His other finish came four races later in Wilson, North Carolina on May 9, when his #100 1949 Plymouth broke a spindle after 23 laps. By season’s end, Pitt was the only repeat last-place finisher, though his six top-ten finishes buoyed him to 11th in the point standings.
Pitt would compete in three more seasons, but never won a race in eighty-one starts. Pitt would finish last four more times in his career, including his final career start at Old Bridge, New Jersey on April 27, 1958. That day, Pitt’s #49 1958 Studebaker fell out after eight laps. His best career finish was 6th, which he accomplished four times on short tracks in 1954 and 1955. He passed away on March 28, 1992.
OTHER LASTCAR HEADLINES
Pitt was one of thirty drivers who finished last in a NASCAR race for the first time in 1954. This list included Gober Sosebee, whose #51 1954 Oldsmobile overheated after 23 laps of the June 6 race at Columbia, South Carolina. Speedy Thompson’s #12 1953 Oldsmobile lost the fuel pump after six laps of the July 3 event at Spartanburg, South Carolina.
For the second-straight year, the season’s NASCAR Cup Champion finished last for the first time in his career - Lee Petty won seven races en route to the title, but his 1954 Chrysler broke a hub after 12 laps of the season finale at North Wilkesboro, North Carolina on October 24.
NASCAR’s first road race was held at the Linden Airport on June 13, and M.R. Peterson, making his first and only NASCAR start, finished last when his #33 Jaguar fell out after six laps. It was the first time that a foreign make trailed the field in a NASCAR event.
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1st) Blackie Pitt (2)
2nd) Buck Baker, Bill Blackwell, Andy Bruni, Pepper Cunningham, Bay Darnell, Dizzy Dean, Bud Diamond, Fred Dove, Ray Duhigg, Harvey Eakin, Walt Flinchum, Tim Flock, Dick Garlington, Dick Grice, Fran Jischke, Jim Jones, Richard Jones, Ralph Liguori, Joel Million, Artie Mitchell, Ed Normi, Jim Paschal, M.R. Peterson, Lee Petty, Jack Smith, Eddie Skinner, Gober Sosebee, Fred Starr, Pete Stewart, Dick Stone, Dave Terrell, Jimmy Thompson, Speedy Thompson, Bill Weiman, Don Woodard (1)
